How Much is your Truck Accident Case Worth?

The amount that your truck accident case is worth depends on a variety of factors, as each accident is unique and different. It is difficult to determine exactly what a case is worth without examining the particulars of that case, but using a few different factors, you can get a general estimate of what your truck accident case is worth.

Types of Damages in Your Truck Accident

Compensatory damages can be divided into two categories: tangible and intangible. Tangible damages are those that are easily quantified, such as lost wages, car repair costs, and medical bills. These are the damages which are meant to compensate you for the financial losses you suffered due to a truck accident.

Intangible damages, or non-economic damages, are more difficult to assign a value to. These damages involve such things as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of normal life. Punitive damages are also a possibility if the negligent party was shown to be reckless or outrageous in their conduct. Usually punitive damages are awarded when the compensatory damages are deemed inadequate and are considered a punishment against the defendant.

Where Do I Start?

A good place to start when determining how much your car accident case is worth is to look at the damage to your vehicle. Look at the estimate you were given for any necessary repairs or the Kelly Blue Book value of your car if it was totaled. Also make note of any items that were inside your car if they were damaged at the time of the accident. You will most likely receive a depreciated value on those items, but you should get something to cover finding a replacement for those items.

You will also want to look at your medical bills if you suffered an injury in your truck accident. This includes the medical visits and treatments, medications, and any on-going care you can expect to have. As long as it can be proven that your injuries will require long term treatment, Illinois law allows for those to be included in your damages.

Determining the intangible damages may be a bit more difficult. Generally, you will look at the pain and suffering you have suffered due to the truck accident and how it has affected your life. Obviously, injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or neck and back injuries will be awarded more than someone who suffered a sprained wrist. It is common for the intangible damages to mirror or surpass the tangible damages, again depending on the severity of your injuries.

Comparative Negligence

If you were in any way negligent in the accident, Illinois allows juries to reduce the amount you are awarded in proportion to the amount of your negligence. For example, if the jury finds you were 10% responsible for the accident, your award would be reduced by 10%. If you are found to be 50% negligent, or more, Illinois law states you will receive nothing.

Insurance Limits

Normally following an accident, your claim will be paid by the insurance company of the negligent truck driver or trucking company. Truck drivers and trucking companies are required by law to carry a much higher level of insurance coverage than the average driver because of the higher level of risk associated with the job.

The state of Illinois requires a driver to carry liability insurance to pay for property damage and bodily injury while The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucks weighing less than 10,000 pounds to have $300,000 in public liability coverage, more than 10,000 pounds to have public liability coverage of $750,000 if transporting goods, and $5 million if transporting hazardous materials. This coverage is coverage for personal injury, property damage, and environmental restoration. While this insurance coverage may seem high, it does not mean the insurance company will automatically issue you a large check for your injuries or damages following a truck accident. 844 See Mike understands how to deal with cases against truck drivers and trucking companies and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve from the party or parties responsible.

Calculating a Settlement

It is almost impossible to accurately determine the value of a settlement without an experienced personal injury lawyer to review your case. There are numerous settlement calculators and math equations online that claim to offer you an idea of what your car accident case is worth, but these are quite often wrong and give an unrealistic idea of what you can expect due to all the unique variables in your case. Let 844 See Mike review your case and determine what your accident case may be worth.

We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another driver’s negligence, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.